Capacitor assembly adapted for circuit board

Abstract

A capacitor assembly is providing for adapting a replacement capacitor to an existing circuit board layout. The capacitor assembly has an adapter with a plate and the replacement capacitor affixed thereto, and the adapter has terminals which are connected to the leads of the replacement capacitor. The adapter further has leads, such as pins, extending downward from the plate, to electrically connect the capacitor assembly to the circuit board.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of replacing two or more capacitors on a circuit board, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a replacement capacitor having first and second leads; 
 (b) providing a plate having (i) an inner face and an outer face; (ii) a first terminal positioned on the plate and electrically connectable to the first lead of the replacement capacitor; (iii) a first connector having at least two leads extending outward from the inner face of the plate, for electrically connecting the first connector to the circuit board in two locations; (iv) a first pathway electrically connecting the first terminal to the first connector; (v) a second terminal positioned on the plate and electrically connectable to the second lead of the replacement capacitor; (vii) a second connector having at least two leads extending outward from the inner face of the plate, for electrically connecting the second connector to the circuit board in two locations; and (viii) a second pathway electrically connecting the second terminal to the second connector; 
 (c) affixing the capacitor to the outer face of the plate and electrically connecting the first lead of the replacement capacitor to the first terminal of the plate and electrically connecting the second lead of the replacement capacitor to the second terminal of the plate; and 
 (d) electrically connecting the leads of the first connector and the leads of the second connector to the circuit board, in the location previously occupied by the two or more capacitors being replaced. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the replacement capacitor is affixed to the plate by an adhesive. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two leads of the first connector comprise two pins extending outward from the inner face of the plate, and the at least two leads of the second connector comprise two pins extending outward from the inner face of the plate, and wherein the replacement capacitor is a single capacitor, which replaces at least two capacitors on the circuit board. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two leads of the first connector comprise three pins extending outward from the inner face of the plate, and the at least two leads of the second connector comprise three pins extending outward from the inner face of the plate, and wherein the replacement capacitor is a single capacitor, which replaces at least three capacitors on the circuit board. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first connector is positioned at a first end of the plate and the second connector is positioned at a second end of the plate, whereby the first end of the plate is opposite the second end of the plate, and the three pins of the first connector are aligned parallel to the three pins of the second connector. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first pathway comprises a first conductive sheet electrically connected to the two pins of the first connector, and the second pathway comprises a second conductive sheet electrically connected to the two pins of the second connector. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first conductive sheet and the second conductive sheet is embedded in the plate. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector is positioned at a first end of the plate and the second connector is positioned at a second end of the plate, whereby the first end of the plate is opposite the second end of the plate. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first terminal and the second terminal are both positioned at either the first end or the second end of the plate. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector comprises three pins extending outward from the inner face of the plate, and wherein the second connector comprises three pins extending outward from the inner face of the plate. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first connector is positioned at a first end of the plate and the second connector is positioned at a second end of the plate, whereby the first end of the plate is opposite the second end of the plate, and the three pins of the first connector are aligned parallel to the three pins of the second connector. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first terminal and the second terminal are both positioned at either the first end or the second end of the plate. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first pathway comprises a first conductive sheet electrically connected to the three pins of the first connector, and the second pathway comprises a second conductive sheet electrically connected to the three pins of the second connector. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first conductive sheet and the second conductive sheet is embedded in the plate. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the replacement capacitor is affixed to the plate by a double-faced adhesive tape having one side bonded to the outer face of the plate and an opposite side bonded to the replacement capacitor.